By Mary Izuaka

 

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has directed the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to furnish him with hourly updates on seismic activities around Abuja following tremors that shook parts of the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Lara Owoeye-Wise, Mr Alake said the directive was to enable regular review of developments and possible escalation to other relevant government agencies.

Earth tremors, also known as seismic tremors, are small earthquakes or vibrations in the earth’s surface. This has been periodically reported in parts of Abuja and surrounding areas in recent years, often triggering concern among residents.

Mr Alake, who is currently in Washington DC, United States engaging American investors on joint venture proposals in the solid minerals sector, urged residents of the FCT to remain calm and go about their normal routines without anxiety.

He said other proactive measures have been deployed to ensure the safety of residents and properties.

The tremor

According to NGSA, the earth tremor was recorded at exactly 11:23:27 a.m. on Tuesday, 4 August by its Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako.

ALSO READ: FG to deploy digital identity to track mining operations in Nigeria

The agency said the tremor originated from a depth of 1 kilometre and spread across a distance of four kilometres within five seconds, causing several buildings in Abuja to shake.

However, NGSA classified the tremor as a “light event of I to II magnitude on the Mercalli scale.”

“This is a characteristic feature of a surface earth tremor that poses no threat to lives and properties except for the discomfort of the shake and fear of possible destruction.”

Mr assured the public that the agency will continue to monitor the situation while residents engage in normal activities.